Safety razor



July 10, 1956 H. P. ISROFF ET AL 2,753,627

SAFETY RAZOR Filed July 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 5 FIG. 6

INVENTORS HELAINE P. ISROFF a GEO GE OSTR BY f z: i

ATTORNEYS July 10, 1956 H. P. ISROFF ETAL 2,753,527

SAFETY RAZOR Filed July 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HEL P GEORGE OSTROV BY f f ATTORNEYS I h b i INVENTORS 1 AINE .ISROFF' a SAFETY RAZOR Application July 7, 1953, Serial No. 366,484

4 Claims. (CI. 30-59) The invention relates generally to safety razors of the type in which a thin flexible blade is clamped in a transversely curved position on a supporting platform at the top of a handle post by one or more cap members operated by screwing a handle section at the bottom end of the post. This type of razor is shown in United States Patent No. 2,009,272, issued July 23, 1935, to Joseph Muros.

More particularly, the invention relates to novel and improved means for operating the cap members to open and close the head of the razor.

In operating the razor of said Muros patent to open and close the cap members for inserting or removing a blade, it is necessary to hold the stationary part of the handle post in one hand while the bottom section is turned or screwed with the other hand. If the razor is tipped on its side, when the cap members are fully open the blade is likely to fall out because both hands are employed on the handle. If the handle is not fully unscrewed to completely open the cap members, the blade cannot be removed, and one is likely to cut his fingers in trying to remove it.

To remove a blade the cap members are operated by unscrewing the handle as far as possible with the right hand while holding the stationary part with the left hand, then the blade is lifted out with the right hand and placed in a dispensing container or the like. To insert a new blade, the new blade magazine is held in the right hand with new blade partly ejected, and the blade positioned in the head. The magazine must then be laid down somewhere, while the right hand is employed to screw the bottom section of the handle and close the cap members, and unless the bottom section is screwed up tight the blade will not be in proper shaving position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a safety razor of the type described in which the cap members are adapted to be opened and closed by manipulating the fingers of the same hand which holds the razor, so that the other hand is free to insert or remove a blade or to perform any other operation desired.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a safety razor having one or more cap members operated by pressing a button or thumb piece in the handle while the handle is held by the fingers of the same hand.

Another object is to provide novel cap operating means which locks the caps in fully open position.

A further object is to provide novel cap operating means which requires a relatively small movement to move the caps from fully closed to fully open position.

A still further object is to generaly improve the opening and closing mechanism of a safety razor of the type described, and to embody the improvements in a simple, compact and inexpensive construction.

These and other objects are accomplished by the parts, improvements and combinations comprising the present invention, preferred embodiments of which are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, and

States Patent 2,753,623? Patented July 10, 1956 described in detail herein. Various modifications and changes in details of construction are comprehended within the scope of the appended claims forming part hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a safety razor embodying the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing the cap members in fully closed position clamping a blade in slightly transversely curved position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the cap members in fully open position;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4--4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 5-5, Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on line 6-6, Fig.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of another embodiment of of invention;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation, partly in section, as on line 9-9, Fig. 8, showing the cap in closed position;

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the cap in open position;

Fig. 11 is a cross section on line 11--1]l, Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section on line 1212, Fig. 7; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary section as on line 13-13, Fig. 8.

In the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs. 1-6, the platform for supporting the blade is preferably formed from heavy sheet metal and has a central recess 21. The platform 20 has downturned flanges 22 at its ends and longitudinal downturned guard lips 23 at its side edges. The platform 20 is rigidly connected to a tubular head 24, preferably by spinning the inner end of the head over upon the bottom of the recess 21. The head is shouldered at 25 to receive the upper end of the handle barrel 26, within which a spindle 27 is axially slidable.

The upper end 28 of the spindle 27 has a cross bar 29 secured therein which extends longitudinally over the recess 21 of the platform. The cross bar preferably is made by folding a sheet metal blank which is received in a slot 30 in the upper end of spindle portion 28 and pivotally secured therein by die pressing the material of the spindle into a transverse perforation 32 in the cross bar. The ends 33 of the cross bar are offset downwardly and pass between the flanges 22 of the platform to connect with horizontal bracket arms 34 at the ends of the platform.

At their outer ends the bracket arms 34 are pivoted at 35 to the lower ends of depending arms 36 on the outer ends of the cap members 38 which in closed position clamp the blade 39 in transversely curved position on the platform. These arms 36 move up and down in guide slots 40 formed at the ends of the: platform be-- tween the flanges 22 and the guard lips 23.

When the spindle 27 is moved up and down, the cross bar and the bracket arms 34 move up and down carrying the pivots 35. The lower ends of arms 36 are provided on the outer edges with cam projections 41 which, when the arms are raised by the pivots, engage the guard lips 23 adjacent the slots 40 and rotate the cap members 38 outwardly until they swing fully open by gravity and rest on top of the lips, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the blade 39 can be lifted out and a new one inserted.

When the arms 36 are lowered by the pivots 35, the arms 36 rock inwardly on the upper surfaces of the lips 23 to move the cap members inwardly to closed position, and as the pivots are lowered further the cap members clamp the blade in transversely curved position, as shown in Fig. 2.

The parts thus far described per se do not constitute part of the present invention.

The novel means of the present invention for operating the cap members includes a thumb piece in the form of a toothed Wheel or pinion 42 projecting from the side of the handle at a position convenient to the thumb of the hand holding the handle 26 of the razor. The pinion 42 is mounted in a slot 43 in the side wall of the handle barrel and is journaled on a pin 44 mounted in the walls 45 forming the slot.

The pinion 42 meshes with the teeth on a rack portion 46 formed in the spindle 27 so that pushing downward on the pinion to rotateit counterclockwise will raise the spindle to open the cap members, and pushing up on the pinion will lower the spindle and close the cap members. The lower end 47 of the spindle is reduced in diameter and is engirdled by a helical compression spring 48 which is interposed between a head 49 attached to the lower end of the spindle by screw 50 and a collar 51 secured to the barrel by pins 52. The spring urges the spindle downwardly to hold the cap members 38 in fully closed position.

A spring pressed ball 53 is mounted in a socket 54 in the spindle, and urged outwardly by a spring 55 against the inner surface of the barrel. A tapered opening 56 is provided in the barrel in which the ball seats to lock the spindle and cap members 38 in fully open position, as shown in Fig. 3.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7-13, inclusive, a push button is employed in the side of the barrel instead of a pinion, with which to raise and lower the spindle. Vse have shown the spindle operatively connected to a one-piece cap which swings to one side in fully open position, as shown in Fig. 10, but it is to be understood that the spindle can, within the scope of the invention, be operatively connected to the hinged caps shown in Figs. l-6. Conversely, the spindle of Figs. l-6 can be operatively connected to the one-piece cap of Figs. 7-13.

In the embodiment of Figs. 7-13, a longitudinal slot 60 is provided in a rectangular enlargement formed in an intermediate portion of the barrel 59 and a push button 61 has a shank 62 slidably mounted in said slot. The inner end of the shank has a-pin 63 slidably received in a hole 64 in the spindle 65, and a spring 66, interposed between the spindle and a collar 67 on the shank, urges the button 61 outwardly. At each end the slot is provided on its inner surface with a circular recess 68 for receiving the collar 67 to frictionally lock the push button in its up or down position corresponding to the open and closed position of the cap.

Thus, by pressing on the button 61 to depress the same and move the collar 67 out of either recess 68, the button can immediately be pushed to the other end of the slot without changing the position of the thumb or finger on the button. Obviously, this operation can be performed with one hand to open and close the cap of the razor while holding it in the same hand.

The one-piece cap 69 shown in Figs. 7-13 has depending arms 70 extending downwardly past the ends of the platform 71 which is secured on the upper end of the barrel and has downturned guard lips 71' at its side edges. The arms 70 have inwardly olfset portions 72 terminating in ears 73 lying alongside the barrel and having notches 74 engaged over the outer ends of a pin 75 extending through the upper end of spindle 65 and slidable in slots 76 extending longitudinally of the barrel 59. The ears 73 are pivoted on the ends of a pin 77 fixed in the wall of the barrel, and the ends of the pin 77 are entered in slots 78 in the ears 73 which allow limited vertical movement of the cap 69.

A cross bar 80 projects upwardly from the central portion of the platform 71 for fitting in the usual central slot of the blade to properly position the same on the platform. A slot 81 is likewise provided in the one-piece cap 69, and extends longitudinally of its central portion, for fitting over the top of the cross bar when the cap is clamped down on the blade to hold it in transversely curved position.

In the operation of this embodiment, assuming the head of the razor to be in the closed position of Fig. 9, in order to open the head the operator holds the barrel 59 in one hand and presses the button 61 inwardly and then upwardly with his thumb, to release the collar 67 from the lower recess 68 and enter it in the upper recess 63. As the button is moved upwardly the pin 63 moves the spindle 65 upwardly and with it the pin 75 moves upwardly in the slots 76 in the barrel.

Engagement of the pin 75 in the notches 7 4 moves the arms 70 and cap 6? upwardly, and during the first part of this movement the slot 78 moves straight upwardly around the fixed pin 77 until the pin engages the bottom of the slot. This initial vertical movement of the arms 7% and cap 69 allows the cap to raise above the top of cross bar 80 so that it is no longer engaged in slot 81 of the cap. Further upward movement of the spindle causes the arms 70 to rock or pivot about the pin 77 as a center, swinging the cap 69 to the left as seen in Fig. 10, at which time the collar 67 of the push button reaches the upper recess 68 and enters said recess when the pressure on the button is released. This locks the cap in fully open position, and the blade can be quickly removed and replaced.

When closing the head, the operator grasps the barrel in one hand in the same manner as when opening the head. The push button is pressed inwardly and downwardly to return .it to the bottom of slot 60 where it enters the lower recess 68, as seen in Fig. 9. During the downward movement of the button the cap first swings back over the platform 71 until the arms 70 engage stops 82 on the platform and the slot 81 is in register with cross bar 80, and then as slot 73 moves downwardly around pin 77 the cap moves straight downward to enter the cross bar in slot 81 of the cap and to clamp the blade in a transversely curved position on the platform 71.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that in both embodiments of the invention we have provided an im proved safety razor of compact and inexpensive construction having novel means for one-hand operation to open and close the razor head, so that the head is opened and closed by simply pushing a button or thumb piece, using the thumb or finger of the same hand which holds the razor in shaving position, leaving the other hand free at all times to perform other operations. In both embodiments the cap members are locked in fully open position.

What is claimed is:

1. In a safety razor having a handle barrel, a blade supporting platform on said handle, a cap member movably mounted on said platform and a spindle movable in said barrel to operate said cap member, means for reciprocating said spindle to open and close the cap memher, said means including a push button projecting from an intermediate portion of the barrel and movably mounted therein, said means including walls forming a longitudinal slot in the barrel, said push button being slidable in said slot and having a pin axially movably engaged in said spindle, a collar on said pin, collar receiving sockets of the ends of said slot on its inner sides, and a spring acting between said spindle and collar for urging said collar into locking engagement with said sockets when the pin is at either end of said slot.

2. In a safety razor having a handle barrel, a blade supporting platform on said handle, a cap member movably mounted on said platform and a spindle movable in said barrel to operate said cap member, means for reciprocating said spindle to open and close the cap memher, said means including a push button projecting from an intermediate portion of the barrel and movably mounted therein, said means including walls forming a longitudinal slot in the barrel, said push button being slidable said slot and having a pin at its inner end axially s'lidable in said slot and having a pin at its inner end axially slidable in said spindle, a collar on the pin, said slot walls having recesses at the ends of the slot on its inner side for receivirg said collar, and a spring acting between said spindle and collar for urging said collar against the slot Walls.

3. In a safety razor including a handle barrel, a blade supporting platform on said barrel, and a spindle slid-able in said barrel, a cap member for clamping a blade on said platform, arms on said cap member extending alongside of the barrel and having transverse notches, said barrel having a longitudinal slot therein, a pin in said spindle projecting through said slot into said notches, said arms having slots extending parallel to said barrel slot when the cap member is in blade clamping position, a pivot pin secured in said barrel and extending into said arm slots, and a thumb piece movably mounted in the side of said barrel and engaged in said spindle to move the same up and down for swinging the cap member laterally of said platform.

4. In a safety razor including a handle barrel, a blade supporting platform on said barrel, and a spindle slidable in said barrel, a cap member for clamping a blade on said platform, arms on said cap member extending alongside of the barrel and having transverse notches, said barrel having a longitudinal slot therein, a pin in said spindle projecting through said slot into said notches, said arms having slots extending parallel to said barrel slots when the cap member is in blade clamping position, a pivot pin secured in said barrel and extending into said arm slot; and a push button longitudinally slidable in the side of said barrel and engaged in said spindle to raise the cap member and then swing it laterally.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,456,786 De Luca May 29, 1923 1,969,509 Hammer Aug. 7, 1934 1,996,405 Chadwick Apr. 2, 1935 2,043,837 Muros June 9, 1936 2,656,599 Segal Oct. 27, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 362,703 Great Britain Ace. Dec. 10, 1931 836,503 France Oct. 17, 1938 

